Record-Breaking District Fit Festival Transforms CityPlace West Palm Beach
- May 8
- 3 min read
The ninth annual District Fit festival concluded its largest and most ambitious iteration to date, bringing a dynamic fusion of fitness, music, and community-driven wellness to CityPlace and the Hilton West Palm Beach. Held from April 10 to 11, 2026, the expanded multi-day event drew over 1,400 registered attendees and 20,000 visitors during the main festival day, reinforcing its status as Palm Beach County’s premier wellness destination.
Presented by Cleveland Clinic and hosted by Related Ross, District Fit showcased more than 15 complimentary classes, a curated lineup of thought-leadership panels, immersive recovery experiences, and a festival-level musical finale.
“District Fit has truly come into its own this year, with record-breaking attendance and our most dynamic lineup to date,” said Eileen Sturgis, Director of Marketing at Related Ross. “What started as a strong one-day wellness concept has evolved into a full-scale, cultural moment, bringing together best-in-class partners, high-energy programming, and a community that continues to show up in a major way.”
Thought Leadership and "The Future of Vitality"
The festival kicked off on Friday, April 10, with an invite-only gathering at the Related Ross Experience Center. Dubbed The Future of Vitality, the evening united industry leaders for forward-looking conversations on longevity, performance, and wellness innovation.
Edward Hertzman, CEO and Founder of Athletech News, led two dynamic panel discussions. The first, A Look Into the Hottest Brands Taking Over Florida (and Beyond), featured Bertus Albertse (JETSET Pilates), Kim Ross (ORA Method), and Lauren Cozzens (Pvolve). The second panel explored the business of longevity with Dr. Caleb Moore (Atria Palm Beach), Kenny Santucci (Strong New York), Sean Hoess (Eudēmonia Summit), and Brandon Kaplan (Maxwell Club).
Beyond the panels, guests engaged in a series of curated activations, including ORA Method ear seeding, Hyperice recovery experiences featuring Normatec boots, a sound bath by Higher Order, and an Anima Mundi Apothecary mocktail bar.
High-Energy Fitness and Restore Row
Saturday, April 11, marked the high-energy culmination of the week with back-to-back workout classes paired with live DJ sets. Attendees engaged with top-tier fitness brands like Equinox, Pvolve, TRX, HYROX with 1401 Athletics, Sweat 440, and Lululemon. Standout moments included high-impact training sessions with Strong New York's Kenny Santucci, yoga flows led by Lululemon ambassadors, and Warrior Family Fit by Systema Floyd, which brought together participants of all ages.
Between classes, Restore Row served as a central gathering space. Attendees explored cutting-edge recovery technology from Hyperice and Nike, sipped wellness shots from Pura Vida and True Food Kitchen, and recharged at an SPF and hydration station by Bluemercury.
For an elevated retreat, the VIP Lounge—designed by Perigold with hospitality by Higher Order Wellness Club—offered personalized stretching sessions with Cleveland Clinic. Proceeds from VIP ticket sales supported The Path at The Park, a local health and wellness nonprofit.
Music, Culinary Experiences, and Community Impact
Bringing world-class entertainment to the wellness space, Palm Tree Crew curated a stellar lineup of DJs to accompany the movement throughout the day. SNDMN, Zeus, and Brooke Brazelton kept the energy high before multi-platinum artist Surf Mesa took the stage for an electrifying headlining set as the sun set, bringing a true festival-level atmosphere to the close of the event.
Culinary activations offered refreshing ways to refuel, including the exclusive "District Matcha Run" mocktail from Harry’s and Adrienne’s Pizzabar, and a gelato cart from Eataly to cap off the day.
The 2026 iteration generated a notable economic and cultural impact for West Palm Beach. With foot traffic up 50% from last year's festival and a strong turnout from the 22-to-34-year-old demographic, District Fit continues to stand as a defining annual moment for the city.
“CityPlace was designed to bring people together, and District Fit is a powerful example of that vision in action,” said Webber Hudson, EVP of Related Ross. “Seeing the event grow into a multi-day festival speaks to the strength of the community and our continued commitment to creating experiences that are both meaningful and culturally relevant.”